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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:43 pm
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Date: 11/10/12
Destination: West Blanca Point 5379 (USGS Blanca Lake) 439P
Party: Dicey, Yana, Gabriel D, Matt
We hiked to Blanca Lake and then to the 5379-foot high point west of the lake.
We never had clear views, but the clouds parted intermittently to give us tantalizing dramatic views of ridges & peaks, a bit of evening light, and of course the striking green tones of the lake.
Blanca West GPS Track Bagged for the season
The trail was frozen but passable under a thin coating of snow. On the descent from Virgin Lake to Blanca Lake, we had brief views through the forest of icy cliffs rising above Troublesome Creek.
Snowy Trail Glimpses of icy cliffs through the forest Another glimpse of the cold cliffy south side of Blanca West
Blanca Lake lay unfrozen, still showing its rich green color, mostly muted under the gray clouds that hugged the ridges, but occasionally reflecting brief flashes of emerald and sapphire when bits of sky opened above.
Blanca Lake
Now we needed to follow Blanca's west shoreline to reach the base of our ridge. To cross the lake's outlet, we had to work a long zigzag course way out across the logs that filled the shallows. Some logs were big, some tiny, some just piles of branches, some covered with snow, some slightly submerged. On our return, I counted 60 separate logs or branches that I stepped on to make it across.
Beyond that we skirted the lake on a rocky verge that provided just enough foot room to get around steeper slabs and obstacles. The next bay provided a wider beach for walking, and then a gully that let us move up higher above the shoreline.
Crossing Blanca's outlet logjam Working around the edge of Blanca Moving up from the shoreline
Here we made a mistake and headed up the side of the ridge too soon. I used up at least a month's supply of cursing on the next hundred vertical feet. It was steep icy brush, where every step left me either stuck against a tangle of branches or slipping downhill, or both.
Once atop the ridge, travel was much better, though still slippery. I was much happier after I put on my crampons for better traction in the low snowy brush.
The lake provided a single thread of color woven through the otherwise mostly monochrome scene. For a while, it was just a green band spread between the nearby trees and the far ridge. Higher up, we could see more of Columbia Glacier north of the lake, and then parts of Kyes & Monte Cristo peaks. Just once, for only a couple minutes, sunlight hit the lake itself, dappling it with glowing patches of emerald under the dark clouds. Then it all disappeared again as we hiked higher up into the clouds.
Head of Blanca Lake with glimpses of Monte Cristo & Kyes Clouds & sky above Kyes Very brief sunlight on the lake Looking down on Blanca from higher up
The top of our ridge was entirely cloud-bound and snowing.
Blanca West summit group Summit view Snow accumulation on Gabriel's hat
On the way down, we stayed more on the crest or north side of the ridge, which provided better terrain. At the bottom, we found a trail above the lake that took us back to our previous track.
The final bay along the shoreline provided a decent beach for a swim. The water was actually warmer than the air temperature. The worst part was getting back into my clothes that had quickly become coated with snow.
Glorious weather departing the summit Brief view on the way down An invigorating swim (the water was warmer than the air)
Snow fell faster as we departed the lake.
Given the weather, it was a surprise to find two parties camped at the lake as we passed by.
Snowfall by the swimming bay Snowing at Blanca Lake Last look at the lake Snowy sky on the trail up.
The day offered a final treat. On the ridge above Virgin Lake, skies cleared just enough to show peaks in the distance and evening sunlight on the treetops.
Evening light on the snowy cliffs Columbia Peak above Virgin Lake Kyes reappears
As we departed the high vantage, shifting mist and evening light made ethereal layers among the trees.
Kyes, trees & fog Columbia, trees & fog Hillside in the mist Trees in the mist
Stats: 10.6 miles, 4880 cumulative gain, 10 hours
Also #599 liftetime peaks in the Cascades for me.
Crossing the Blanca Lake Logjam
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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LadyÆsa Surefooted Spitfire
Joined: 16 Oct 2012 Posts: 671 | TRs | Pics Location: Custer, Whatcom County, WA |
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LadyÆsa
Surefooted Spitfire
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Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:41 pm
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Beautiful!!
"We have one chance, one chance, to get everything right. We have one chance, one chance, and if we're lucky we might." One Chance, Modest Mouse
"We have one chance, one chance, to get everything right. We have one chance, one chance, and if we're lucky we might." One Chance, Modest Mouse
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twodogdad Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 846 | TRs | Pics Location: seattle |
Matt wrote: | An invigorating swim (the water was warmer than the air) |
You're the man!
I thought you'd have your famous cup of tea after the swim.
N
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Hulksmash Cleaning up.
Joined: 20 Apr 2008 Posts: 7113 | TRs | Pics Location: Arlington |
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Hulksmash
Cleaning up.
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Tue Nov 13, 2012 2:19 am
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twodogdad wrote: | Matt wrote: | An invigorating swim (the water was warmer than the air) |
You're the man!
I thought you'd have your famous cup of tea after the swim.
N |
I've been know to do a polar bear dip my self. But no way i would do that there with out a camp fire already burning, or some other method to warm up after.
"Bears couldn't care less about us....we smell bad and don't taste too good. Bugs on the other hand see us as vending machines." - WetDog
Albuterol! it's the 11th essential
"Bears couldn't care less about us....we smell bad and don't taste too good. Bugs on the other hand see us as vending machines." - WetDog
Albuterol! it's the 11th essential
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6392 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
Member
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Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:23 am
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Matt wrote: | Very brief sunlight on the lake |
hard to pick a favorite pic, but i think this is a truly stunning shot. those muted colors combined with the normally unreal colors of blanca lake make for a doubly unreal combo. stellar all around!
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iron Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 6392 | TRs | Pics Location: southeast kootenays |
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iron
Member
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Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:27 am
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oh yeah, how's the road to jack pass?
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Yana Hater
Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 4212 | TRs | Pics Location: Out Hating |
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Yana
Hater
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Tue Nov 13, 2012 6:39 pm
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Devoid of snow and in good shape.
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
PLAY SAFE! SKI ONLY IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION! LET'S ALL HAVE FUN TOGETHER!
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Matt Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 4307 | TRs | Pics Location: Shoreline |
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Matt
Tea, Earl Grey, Hot
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Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:05 pm
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Of course, that was before the most recent snowstorm.
It was also densely foggy. Yana did a heroic job driving through it.
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“As beacons mountains burned at evening.” J.R.R. Tolkien
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pimaCanyon Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 1304 | TRs | Pics Location: at the bottom of the map |
you guys do the coolest trips! I admire your commitment to getting out. By November I would be holing up at home in front of the fire or maybe walking the beach, in between rain showers. :-)
Great photos!
It's never too late to have a happy childhood
It's never too late to have a happy childhood
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Stefan Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001 Posts: 5093 | TRs | Pics
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Stefan
Member
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Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:29 am
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swimming in that stuff. amazing!
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touron Member
Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Posts: 10293 | TRs | Pics Location: Plymouth Rock |
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touron
Member
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Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:05 pm
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Hulksmash wrote: | I've been know to do a polar bear dip my self. But no way i would do that there with out a camp fire already burning, or some other method to warm up after. |
Delete: campfire
Add: bonfire
Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
Touron is a nougat of Arabic origin made with almonds and honey or sugar, without which it would just not be Christmas in Spain.
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dicey custom title
Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2870 | TRs | Pics Location: giving cornices a wider berth |
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dicey
custom title
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Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:32 pm
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The video commentary is priceless. Nothing like having your friends rooting for you to fall in!
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raising3hikers Member
Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 2344 | TRs | Pics Location: Edmonds, Wa |
beautiful pics. Nice time to visit that area
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